Temperature control for boiler-washout systems



June 26, 1923.

S. OTIS ET AL TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR BOILER WASHOUT SYSTEMS Filed July '7, 1921 Patented June 26, 1923.

i srrs 1,460,109 PATENTOFFICE.

SPENCER OTIS AND FRANK S. WICHMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR BOILER-WASH OU'T SYSTEMS.

Application filed July 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SPENCER O'rrs and FRANK S. VVICHMAN, citizensof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Temperature Controls for Boiler-VVashout Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a system for blowing off and washing out boilers in which the water blown ofi from the locomotive is delivered to a washout tank and there stored for use in washing out the boiler after the boiler is emptied. It is desirable to have hot water for washing purposes, but the temperature of water in the washout tank generally exceeds" that which can conveniently be handled by operatives to such an extent that it is customary to combine with the washout line a thermostatically controlled cold water supply which is adapted to temper the water pumped through the washout line whenever the temperature on the delivery side of the washout pump is excessive. It is also desirable in washout systems of this kindto provide a return flow pipe from the remote end of the washout line so that a circulation of washout water may be maintained to keep up the temperature at the drops or washing stations in the roundhouse, and also to guard against freezing in, winter. The return or circulating pipe of the washout line has generally been connected directly or in directly with the washout tank so that the water passes to the latter. But this system has proven uneconomical for the reason that the washout pump in taking its water from the washout tank, at times when there are no boilers being washed and the pump is merely keeping up circulation, delivers to the line water at such temperature that the tempering water is constantly or frequently discharged into the washout line with the result that there is an increment of water in the system when none is being consumed, and there is a wastage, often to the extent of filling and overflowing the washout tank. It has been proposed to deliver returned water of circulation from the washout pipe to the suction side of the pump in order to avoid taking hot water from the boiler and calling into action the tempered water. In order to keep up the temperature of the water so circulated it has been proposed 1921. Serial No. 482,884.

to pass it through a coil that is submerged in but does not communicate with the washout tank. y t

I The present invention avoids the wastage above referred to by connecting the return fiowpipe of the washout'line with the pump ing from traverse of the system, to cool down the water delivered by the pump and greatly reduce or altogether prevent-thern'iostatic action of the automatic water tempering attachment while the pump is merely keeping up circulation without in any way detracting from the operation and efii ciency of the tempering attachment when the pump begins to deliver the full volume of water from the tank in response to the opening of the washout drop at one or more of the stations in the roundhouse; such portion of the returned water of circulation as is not required to bring the water at tank temperature down below'that which influences the thermostat being by-passed to the tank so that water from the washout tank can be constantly circulated bythe "pump, and by a very simple arrangement the tem-' perature of the water that'is circulated can be kept down below that for which the thermostat is set by radiation from the circulating line. I I i In carrying out the invention, the circulating line will preferablybe caused to de liver to the suction side ofthe pump between the thermostat and the tank. I

The accompanying drawing represents schematically a system embodying the features of the present invention.

A, B, and C represent three stalls or stations in a roundhouse where locomotives are blown off, washed out, and refilled by connecting their boilers, first, with the blowoif pipe 1, which is adapted to deliver the blown ofi products of the boiler to the separator 2, whence its volatiles pass through crossover pipe 3 to condenser 4 and ultimately reach the filling tank 5 while the water constituent passes at high temperature through the pipe 6 to the washout tank 7; then, to the washout pipe 8 which is sup- 7 lied by pump 9 with water from the tank g at a warm temperature to avoid injury to the boiler; and, finally, with the pipe 10 which is kept supplied by pump 11 with water from tank '5 which is relatively pure water suitable for steaming purposes.

In Order to keep up circulation in the line 10 so that filling water at the more or less remote stations A, B, and C will be at proper temperature whenever drawn upon for boiler purposes and the system will be properly safeguarded against freezing in winter, said line is provided with a so-called circulating line or return flow pipe 11 of reduced capacity which may discharge into the tank 5, or may be used for special con.- denser purposes. Similarly, the washout line 8 is provided with a circulating line or return flow pipe 12, preferably ofreduced capacity. According to" the present invention, the pipe 12 delivers to pump 9 in- Y stead of to the tank 7 as heretofore, and

preferably into the suction pipe 13 of said pump between the tank -7 and thermostat 1. 1 of the valve 15 which controls the water pipe 16'that tempers the output of the pump 9; By so connecting the pipe 12' it will supply most of the water put out by pump 9so long as the pump is merely keeping up circulation through the filling line 8, and so far reduce the proportion of hot water taken from tank 7 that the thermostat 14 will not be called into action by such circulation, the waste of fresh cold water will be avoided, and constant lowering of temperature of water in tank 7, and overflow of the tank will be prevented.

In order to insure a proper drop in temperature of the water returning to the pump in the manner described, the return line 12 may be provided with a cooling coil 12*,

; and this,of course, can be in a position where the heat given off will serve a useful purpose if desired,

If the system be so installed, and par-. ticularly where use is so infrequent that there is danger of too much drop in temperature in the circuit defined by the pump and pipes 8, 12, and l3,and the line would otherwise be in danger of freezing in ex treme weather, a by-pass 17' may be introduced between the delivery end of pipe 12 and the tank 7, and valves 17 17 so arranged that the proportion of water passing directly to the pump 9 from pipe 12 and theportion drawn from tank 7 by the pump may be regulated at will to insure a temperature as high as may be desirable in the washout line.

We claim: I

1; In a boiler washing system, a washout tank, a washout line, a pump feeding water from said tank to said line, a return flow pipe leading from said line, and controllable pipes leading from said return flow pipe, respectively, to the suction side of the pump and to said tank. I

.2. In a washout system for boilers, a

washout tank, a washout line, a pump having a suction pipe leading from said tank and adapted to feed water from the tank to said line, a cold water supply pipe connected with said suction pipe, a thermostat subject to temperature of water fed to the pump, controlling said cold water pipe, and a return flow pipe having branches leading, respectively, to the tank and to said suction pipe. I i 3. In a washout system for boilers, a washout tank, a washout line, a pump having a suction pipe leading from said tank and adapted to feed water from the tank to said line, a cold water supply pipe connected with said suction pipe, a thermostat subject to temperature of water fed to the pump, controlling said cold water pipe, and a return flow pipe having branches leading, respectively, to the tank and to said suction pipe; means being provided for determining the proportions of return flow water passing throu -h said branches, respectively.

Signed at hicago, Illinois, this 2nd day of July, 1921.

xSPENCER OTIS.

FRANK S. WICHMAN, 

